A wealth of information on Californian trees is scattered among many different literature sources. To make it more readily accessible, portable, concise, and comprehensive, there is a need for compiling this information into a single electronic source.
A comprehensive computerized information system (database) of Californian trees on CD-ROM is in progress. It will include approximately 200 native and naturalized tree species. The database combines a large amount of information on hardwood and softwood trees into a single source. It will provide a quick and reliable information on Californian trees for a wide range of users including botanists, ecologists, conservationists, foresters, designers and architects, law enforcement officials, general wood users and lovers of Californian trees. Sources of information will be cited. The database will be formatted using the Expert center for Taxonomic Identification's (ETI) Linnaeus II software and made available for both Macintosh and Windows systems.
The database incorporates the following information:
GENERAL: Family, genus, species, author, synonyms, common and trade names, geographical distribution, brief taxonomic description with reference on revision/monographic treatments, reproductive biology, fossil record, and ethnobotany.
WOOD: Physical and mechanical properties, end-use, wood identification at low magnification, and brief wood anatomical description.
ECOLOGY: Habitat, environmental profile and/or status of natural forest resource, fire ecology, and longevity.
IMAGES: Distribution maps, line drawings, leaves, flowers and cones, fruits, wood surface for color and grain pattern, macroscopic view of transverse surface of the wood, microscopic view of transverse, tangential, and radial surfaces of the wood.
Key words: Californian trees, CD-ROM data-base.
Correspondence: Gracielza dos Santos, Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, 1500 North College Avenue, Claremont, California 91711
Telefax: +1-909-6267670
E-mail: dossantg@cgs.edu